Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of electric vehicle charging points available for public use in Birmingham.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
As at 1 January 2022, there were 194 public electric vehicle charging devices in the Birmingham local authority area.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the payment system of Birmingham's Clean Air Zone which does not alert drivers when they have entered the zone prompting them to pay.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We have not commissioned an autopay system because the Clean Air Zone payment service is proposed to be decommissioned once compliance and a permanent improvement in air quality has been achieved.
We have had to balance many factors in designing the Clean Air Zone payment service, including the legal imperative to act in the shortest possible time. Autopay would have added to the technical complexity.
The Clean Air Zone Framework makes it clear that “as a minimum requirement, there must be traffic signing strategies in place along major access routes and at entry points to clearly delineate the zone, and alternative routes for those who wish to divert around it.” More than 300 signs have been installed by Birmingham City Council on the road network surrounding the boundary of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone to inform drivers they are approaching the zone.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the requirement for dual British and French citizens to surrender their original French driving licence when applying for a British driving licence.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The law does not allow a driver to hold both a GB and an EU driving licence at the same time. Any driver holding an EU driving licence must surrender it before a GB licence can be issued. This is an important provision which helps prevent the circumvention of the system of driving licence endorsements and disqualification for road traffic offences. There are no plans to amend this provision.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of updating the traffic sign regulations and general directions to authorise the use of side road zebra crossings without the need for beacons or zigzag lines.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department is aware of research carried out by Transport for Greater Manchester into the idea of simplified zebra crossings and their request for these to be legalised. The Department is carefully considering the research report and its findings before making any decisions on changing legislation.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a sufficient number of DVLA staff to process driving licence renewal and HGV applications.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
During October the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was able to focus extra resource on vocational driving licence applications to support the HGV driver shortage. This has been successful with routine vocational applications now back to normal turnaround times.
The DVLA’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to make an application. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents within a few days. However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application. The latest information on turnaround times for paper applications can be found here.
The DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham to help reduce waiting times while providing future resilience and business continuity.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will update guidance issued by the DVLA on holding expired licences awaiting renewal.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days. However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application for a driving licence. The latest information on DVLA services and the turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
Holders of driving licences that expired between 1 February and 31 December 2020 were given an 11-month extension from the date of expiry. Drivers do not need to renew their photocard or entitlement to drive until 11 months after the original expiry date.
Most drivers applying to renew their licence can continue driving while their application is being processed. Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 allows drivers who have sent a valid application to the DVLA to continue driving while waiting for their application to be processed. Strict criteria apply and these are outlined online here.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a timetable for publication of the Government's consultation on pavement parking.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department plans to publish the outcome to the consultation as soon as possible.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of Rule 163 of the Highway Code on giving cyclists at least as much room when overtaking a car.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department consulted last summer on proposed changes to The Highway Code to improve the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists. The proposed changes include new guidance in Rule 163 around safe passing distances and speed limits when overtaking.
The consultation on the proposed changes generated a huge response with nearly 21,000 replies received. The Department has concluded full analysis of the feedback and published the Government response to the consultation on the 30 July 2021.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what advice his Department is providing to recipients of the Indian-manufactured AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine who plan to travel to Italy over concerns that that vaccine has not been authorised by the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Travel advice is a matter for the FCDO. The government is clear that all AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK are the same product and appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria. The European Medicines Agency has authorised Vaxzevria and we are confident that travel will not be affected. The government recommend that all passengers check FCDO travel advice before travelling overseas.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on people with epilepsy of flashing lights on pedal cycles.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Published research identifies that flashing lights at certain intensities have the potential to trigger seizures in those who suffer from photosensitive epilepsy. It also reports the likelihood of such effects to be low and the frequency range most likely to cause such a response is 5-30 flashes per second (5-30Hz).
As such, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (as amended) permit flashing bicycle lamps only if they have a frequency of no greater than 4 Hz, and not so bright as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users.